Learning Concepts and Conditioning

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts of learning theories, including classical and operant conditioning, as well as observational learning.

Learning

The process of acquiring new and relatively enduring information or behaviors through experience.

Classical Conditioning

A type of learning in which an organism learns to associate two stimuli to anticipate events.

Operant Conditioning

A type of learning where behavior is modified by its consequences, either reinforced or punished.

Associative Learning

Learning that certain events occur together, which may involve two stimuli or a response and its consequence.

Unconditioned Stimulus (US)

A stimulus that unconditionally triggers a response without prior learning.

Unconditioned Response (UR)

An unlearned response that occurs naturally in reaction to an unconditioned stimulus.

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

An originally neutral stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus, comes to trigger a conditioned response.

Conditioned Response (CR)

A learned response to a previously neutral stimulus that has become conditioned.

Acquisition

The initial stage of learning in classical conditioning where a neutral stimulus becomes associated with an unconditioned stimulus.

Extinction

The diminishing of a conditioned response when the unconditioned stimulus no longer follows the conditioned stimulus.

Spontaneous Recovery

The reappearance of an extinguished conditioned response after a pause.

Generalization

The tendency to respond to stimuli that are similar to the conditioned stimulus.

Discrimination

The learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and other stimuli that do not signal an unconditioned stimulus.

Reinforcement

Any event that strengthens the behavior that follows, increasing the likelihood of its recurrence.

Punishment

An event that tends to decrease the behavior that it follows, reducing the likelihood of its recurrence.

Positive Reinforcement

Increasing behaviors by presenting a pleasurable stimulus after a response.

Negative Reinforcement

Increasing behaviors by stopping or reducing an aversive stimulus.

Fixed Ratio Schedule

A reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified number of responses.

Variable Ratio Schedule

A reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response after an unpredictable number of responses.

Fixed Interval Schedule

A reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specific time has elapsed.

Variable Interval Schedule

A reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervals.

Preparedness

A biological predisposition to learn associations that enhance survival.

Instinctive Drift

The tendency of learned behaviors to revert back to biologically predisposed patterns.

Observational Learning

Learning by observing and imitating others' behaviors.

Modeling

The process of observing and imitating a specific behavior.

Prosocial Behavior

Positive, constructive, helpful behavior that is opposite of antisocial behavior.

Antisocial Behavior

Negative behavior that can harm others, often learned through observation.